Fears over cost of holding DJ nights

Licensees are concerned they could face massive price hikes to run special recorded music events, such as discos, in their pubs. Phonographic Performance Ltd (PPL), which grants licences to allow pubs to play sound recordings, is re-examining the way Specially Featured Entertainment (SFE) tariffs are calculated. An SFE licence enables a pub to play recorded music as a main or special attraction, not just in the background, and covers discotheques and DJ presentations.

Under the current system, licensees are charged a rate based on how many hours of recordings are played at an event, together with the average attendance and the number of events planned over a year.

PPL is suggesting in a consultation paper that the tariff should instead be worked out based on the capacity of the venue. Richard Stewart, rights negotiation executive at PPL, said: "It's only a slightly different way of doing things but an easier one than the current slow, complicated process."

Licensees are already up in arms after PPL moved to raise the prices charged on playing background music by 500 per cent at the start of this year.

Allan Hayes, licensee of the Buck House Hotel, in Bangor on Dee, Wrexham, said: "I can't see how this isn't going to cost us more money. Pubs may have a large capacity but won't always fill it. My past experience with this sort of thing, and with PPL fees already going up, is this will be another kick in the teeth."

Stephen Pike, licensee at the Bay Horse pub in Huddersfield, Yorkshire said: "I think it's completely wrong because there is no necessity for it whatsoever. Pubs are doing fine as they are but we keep getting picked on. It annoys me that people keep on changing the rules."

Bill Sharp, spokesman for the Guild of Master Victuallers, said: "What if you have a real bummer of a night? It doesn't do you any good if you've still got to pay for a packed-out venue."

Have your say​

If you would like to have your say on the PPL consultation contact Richard Stewart on 020 7534 1276 or email fsrerivrj@ccyhx.pbz​ by June 23.